Lyonnaise des Eaux, the water division of Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group announced it's English subsidiary Northumbrian Water Group has been selected for the wastewater and sludge treatment project in the Levenmouth area of Fife, East of Scotland.

The 40-year contract will provide waste water and sludge treatment facilities for a population equivalent of 440,000. The project represents an estimated £50 million (76 million Euros) in capital investment.

The objective is to improve the quality of the Forth Estuary (in the Edinburgh area) and local bathing water in line with the requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

The selected consortium, a 50/50 joint venture between Northumbrian Water Group and Scottish Power will provide for the funding, design, construction and operation of the plants. Degrémont, a subsidiary of Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux will design the plant and supply the equipment.

Commenting on the announcement, Gérard Payen, executive vice-president, water, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group said: "Scotland is a new significant market for waste water services. We look forward to providing our expertise and experience locally with an environmental-friendly solution that will help the region meet European Union waste water requirements".

Lyonnaise des Eaux, the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group water division, is the world leader in water management, currently supplying 77 million people with drinking water and 52 million people with wastewater services of which 80 percent are based outside France. Lyonnaise des Eaux controls the entire water cycle including water resources management, drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment and sludge treatment.